Charging machine



Jan. 1, 1935. C O PRATT ET AL 1,986,118

CHARGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (/mr le: 0. Pro ff 'ATTORN CHARGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN Jan. 1, 1935.

C. O. PRATT ET AL CHARGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l u l INVENTORS Patented Jan. 1, 1935 r. V to Q l UNITED STA-T PAT E N Tj DFJFI Lil 86418 a o GHAR'GING Gharles 04: Pratt, Maplewond, and olav T weit,

West Orange, N. .I.,Iassigmprs to Scmet-Solvay Engineering C (itm'ration,v New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New' York d 7 Application July 14;. 1931, Serial No} 556,696 1'1 Claiins. (or; 214-2) This invention relates to charging apparatus; eating type may be utilized toclose the circular and more particularly, to acharging machine ihl'et of the magazine upon completion of dedesigned to supply predetermined amounts of livery of a charge to the magazine; The open fuel at regular intervals to a generator oragas ating' mechanism for the cover is operatively -plant.

One object of this invention is to provide on closing the closure plates forthe weigh hopper. improved? charging device involving aisubstan- A vertically reciprocating. fuel spreader and t a lv statio a y fi d h pp r whi his perclosure member for the" discharge outlet in the mitted y limited? vertical movement bottom" ofthe fuel magazine is operated in'timed I bination with afuel magazine adapted todiselat -w th t o u f thedjsch'arge l0 c a ge into a easgenerator a ct'en curate p'e'r' and the inlet to the fu'elmag'a'zine. The fuel w h n m anisms th hop d W hin spreader is reciproc'ateclby a hydraulic cylinder m chanism ng a d t be d sp s d positioned above the magazine; the iston rod countenbalancing relation. The feature of utiof" which is extended to connect with the lizing asuhstantially fixed hopper m lieu of tiltaspreader, Preferably a sleeve enoases the pisb e hopp to e emp 'd' e o ton: rod and serves to protect it. The portion or chines results in a more rugg and durable t-hejrodextending within the magazine may be 7 7 construction and eliminates errors" in weighing pr'ofe'c'ted by an. auxiliary sleeve. The sleeve necessarily present when a tiltable hopper is d pigt'gr} r extend'thzr'ough a suitablepacked 2o utilized. V .7 4 bearing. positioned on the magazine wall so that A fu t PJ h lnvqntlfln 15150 m it i's-readily accessible.:from the exterior thereof. a" hopper having limited: vertical movementar- In accompanying drawings which are t ranged to discharge material through the in he understood as merely illustrative of one emof'a fuel magazine, the hopper having a: bottom bpdiment f the invention and not as limiting,

of the hopper and. servewhen opelras acondult or chute for conducting fuel or othe'f material Fig 1 s a side ev i of charger p051; from the hopperlntothem g t m j tioned over a gas generator, fragmentarily Still a further ob'ge'ct of this invention IS to Showm connected with the mechanism for opening and 5 closure. adapted to alternatelyhlbsethe bottom g vmyention to the pe ifi embodiment 5 i equip the nozzle of fuel magazine with Fig. 2' is a vertical section, partly in elevation, 30-

Cipmcating closure l 9 c through the charging machine, the section being moved froman opemtozrawlosed 9 9 m taken through the charging machine in a ver-" velsa ,.actuates the closure means for thehopper. m y plane, passing through. the mid portion, Other objects and advantages of this invention the magazineandphopper;

tion. I machine shown in Fig. 1 and The i gis i Fig. 4 is aperspective of one of the" plates which is moune 5a uemagazne a ap' '0 Y L 7 i, be positioned. over and? commumbawv with a closing the discharge outlet ofvthe fuel hopper. 40 charging opening of a gas generator as for ex-= ample a water gas generator; A supporting frame is mounted on the carriage; suspended from the; frame: is. a: weighhopper having" only limited? vertical movement and arranged to be a removable annular casting or seat for a charging openingz22- prdvided': in the upper'portion of a gas generait'm The casting 21' carries a depending cylindricalneck portion 23 which ex- Wm appear from? the fjouawmg'idmirewdescrip' Fig.- 3' is an and elevation of the charging In thedrawings, reference numeral 21 denotes weighing. mechanism also mounted on the cargawk" Chute i m infirbdued into h adage hopperisiprovid ed at Charger her elnafter d9 toms with a discharge opening arranged"to-di's SGPlbd-l a v I charge into the: inlet of the magazine. Th'e charging apparatus of this invention in- A pair of closure: plates are disposed} adjacent cl'ucles a fuel ma'g'azine'24' mounted on a carriage the discharge opening of the hopper. These ort'ruclt' frame 25 composed of longitudinal plates, when open, pass into the circular inlet channel bars 26 connectedhy cross bars 2'1 and ofv the magazine and form a conduit onchute 28. Axles 29 and 31" on the cross bars have through.which material gravitatesfrom the-hop'-- rotatablfir jouinaled thereon car Wheels 32 dep lerintothe'magazine; A. cover ofth'e 'recipro signect'to ride *on'rai'ls 33" between which the charging opening 22 of the. gas generator is located.

The magazine 24 may consist of two portions; a lower portion 34 and an upper portion 35 secured by bolts 30, positioned around the periphery of the fuel magazine and extending through contacting flanges on the top of base 34 and the bottom. of upper portion 35.: Portion'34 is preferably of "cast construction so that it is rugged and durable. The upper portion 35 of the magazine may be of steel plate. of portion 34 is tapered to form a seat 86 for-a vertically reciprocating combined spreader and closure member 3'7 which when seated seals the discharge outlet in the bottom of the'magazine 24. Spreader member 37, preferably of conical shape, as shown in Fig.2, is mounted on a shaft 38 constituting an extensioniof a piston rod 39- of a hydraulic cylinder 40. This cylinder functions to reciprocate the spreader member 37.

It will be noted that the portion of shaft 38 which extends up'from spreader 37 within the magazine 34 is of somewhat greater diameter than the piston rod 39. An elongated sleeve 41, preferably of brass, protects the piston rod 39. This sleeve, extends' from a piston 49 through a head for the hydraulic cylinder 40 and a.

bearing support 42 located in the wall of the magazine24, down to the" top of the enlarged shaft portion 38. Sleeve 41 is concentric with the piston rod and is disposed so that it forms a continuation of the circumferential surface of shaft 38 as shown inFig. 2. Movement of piston 49 causes movement of sleeve 41, piston rod 39, and integral shaft portion '38, operatively connected with the piston. By 'the construction hereinabove described, the. piston rod is effectively protected against wear and the corrosive charge position within the generator,' indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. v i

As indicated above, sleeve 41, reciprocates in the bearing support 42, disposed on the top of the magazine 24. Recess 43 positioned at the top of bearing 42 is provided with suitable [packing material and a split gland member 44to form a fluid tight joint for the piston rod encased in sleeve 41 at the point wherethe sleeve extends from the magazine. This joint and the bearing supports for the sleeve, it will be noted, are readily accessible from the exterior of the mega zine for adjustment and replacement.

Hydraulic cylinder 40 is suitably supported above magazine 24, as for example by spacer-bars 46, secured to the top of the magazine and to the head 45 of the hydraulic cylinder disposed above the magazine. A packing gland 47, similar to packing gland 44, is located in head 45 to provide a'fluid tight joint between the sleeve for the piston rod and the head 45; Ports 51 and 52 at the ends of the cylinderv 40 permit ingress and egress of the actuating fluid. These ports 1 may be connected by suitable pipe connections with control mechanism for regulating the flow of pressure fluid into and fromthe' hydraulic The base cylinders operating the spreader and the cover for the magazine hereinafter described. This control mechanism may, in turn, be operatively associated with the control nest of the water gas set so that the operation of the charger is synchronized with that of the generator. The construction and operation of such control mechanisni is disclosed andclaimed in (Iieorge R. Steeres "pending application, Seria'l'No. 305,848, filed September 13, 1928, and per se, forms no part of this invention.

"Piston rod 39 extends beyond the piston 49 and isprovided on its top with an annular flange53. -A" latch member 54, arranged to be moved by'hand lever 55, is disposed at the top of the. hydraulic cylinder, the latch being adapted to engage under flange 53 to maintain the spreader element in seated position when desired. The latch above described may be used to maintain the spreader 37 in closed position when the charger is moved from one point to another/ I A lever-56 is pivotally mounted in the top of head 57,-of' the hydraulic cylinder 48. End 53 of piston rod 39 in its upward movement contacts with lever 56, swingingit to close a mercury switch or; other switch of any preferred type (not shown), operatively connected to lever 56. The switchforms part of the control mechanismfor the charger described in the aforementioned Steere application, Serial No. 305,848, closingof the switch permitting continued operation of the charger in timed relation with that of the generator. If for any reason the spreader is not returned to seated position and the lever 56 isnot moved to close the switch associated therewith, the switch remains open and causes discontinuance of the operation of the charger, permitting the operator to rectify the condition preventing proper return of the spreader to seated position.

. Magazine. 24 is provided with a circular inlet 58 which preferably is disposed at one side of, and eccentric to, the vertical axis of the magazine. In the embodimentof the invention disc1osed,-the inlet consists of a flanged protuberant portion, or charging nozzle 59 to which is bolted or otherwise secured a removable flanged seating member 60. As shown in Fig. 2, the

flanges of :the seating member 60 and nozzle 59 are bolted together. Thus, aremovable and renewable seat'is provided for a cover 61, which is arranged to seal the inlet to the fuel magazine. i

A hydraulic cylinder '62, mounted on bracket 63 extending from the fuel nozzle 59, moves cover 61 ina horizontal plane from a position sealing inlet 58, shown in Fig. 2, to a position away from this inlet depicted in dotted lines in' Fig. 1. Pressure fluid for a reciprocating piston 64 of hydraulic-cylinder 62 is admitted intwanddischarged from ports 67, which may beconnected with the control mechanism regu lating the flow; offluid through ports 51 and 5 2 ofhydraulic cylinder 40. i

A switch preferably is associated with cover 61 in the same manner that the-switch is associated with the spreader 37 to insure proper return of cover 61 to seated position, as more fully described in the aforementioned Steere application.

.Piston rod 65 of hydraulic cylinder 62 extends from piston 64 through a suitable packed head 66 and is connected to cover 61 by nut and bolt C nriectioii,;;indicated by the reference numeral weenie 68L Rollers $1,. mounted on: axles: or shatts. ex:- tendlngilaterallit from the top of: cover er, are arranged? to travel? between two sets of tracksor guides 72 and '13; each'zs'eti-heing disposed leit'eralliv ofi thecoverol'. One end oi each set' ofl tracks: and; '73 maybe suitably mounted opens and fixed"v to the" seat 66 by standards M and. the: other end of the. tracks: bolted: to stander-d;v 63, as indicated at '79: Itwill' he: noted from: Fig.1 that each lower tract: '13. is provided with: arecess or" depressed portion '76 disposed directly above the central:- portion of the cover when inseated position overinlct 5-81: The. upper track 72 is: formed directly above the recess '16 with an: adjustable inclined.cam.like projection or wedge 7n. Thus;v when cover 61;. supported through the rollers 71,.ismoved; to: the left end of: tracks Wfand; 73, viewingliig; 1', the rollers 7.-L ran into" the depression '76 and are engaged by the: cam portion '77; forcing the rollers and the connected: cover into; gas tight engagement with: theseat toiorm or gas: tight seal for" the inlet to: the fuel magazine. 24. piston rod. 65 im reverse direction causes rollers 7L to ride up on the. elevated. portion of corn track '72-*,.raising the cover and permitting ready removal: thereof, While supported and guided by the tracks 7 2- and. 73; 7

Magazine 24 is supported. on. truck" frame: 25 when the charger is not in position: over the charging; opening. of agas generator by bifurcated. levers 69? (Fig.. 3);. disposed on diametrically opposite: sides:- oii therfuel magazine; Each lever 69 is secured to a 80 pivotally carried in an: open cradle or frame: 70 fixed to the truck frame 25:. The open portion of. the cradle permits elevation: of shafts with. respect to the truck frame 25 when: the: magazine 1 is moved into gas tight. engagement with: the casting 21 onthe generator. The: lowerr end'i of each lever 69 is pivotaily secured-- to? the" magazine 24, as indi-- sated at or and: the: upper: end pivotalliy' engages a nut. member" 83', threaded on' screw threaded shaft 84;. through a pivot82; The shafts 84; are pivotally secured to a" side of the: magazine asindicated at: 85.. Nut" member: 83 may be turnedhy hand: wheel18fi to mIWe the nut either to the right or left and swing lever 69 about pivot 81: Pivoted":- on each shaft 80 is a hook or. clamp- 89, which. has positioned thereon or integral therewith a handle 87-1 Lugs 1'00; formed on' casting 21 are" arranged. to: be engaged by hook 89' when the: magazine is in lowered; position; hooks- 89 pulling. up on: the lugs I00 and" levers 69' b'earing down onthe magazine to" give a gas ti'ght' joint between the: magazine and the generator. The structure and? operationof the supporting mech anisms for the magazine on the'truck frame and the. mechanism. for lowering the magazine into gas-tight engagement with thecasting on the generator. is described and claimed in Patent" No. 1770:560 of July 15', I930; andreferenceto this: patent may be had for more detailed description". of this mechanism;

Vertical angle bars- 90 are riveted or otherwise secured: to channels 26: and are connected at their upper" ends; by longitudinal angles- 91": and

cross? bars suitable intermediate bracing;

members 93' being: employed: to" form arigid frame which: is carriediby the truck or: carriage 25; A substantially stationarytuel hopper94: of general rectangular cross-section is. suspended:

tromrthisirame and is arranged to. be placed. in

counter-balancing; relation with weighing mechamism hereinatterdescribedin": a. manner. such iatoms-united: vertical; movement of the hopper is permitted'a For this purpose, two pairs of eye bolts-cache pair at each. side of hopper 94', each -eye boltioi a pair being disposed' in thev-icinity of a corner: of the' rectangular portion of 7 the hopper, aresecured to. angles 91."A- bell cranlti lever 96 has its intermediate portion pivotallyi suspended irom-each'eye-bolt 951 A; pipe l'eversli, parallel toside 98 of hopper 94 is fiie cdly mountedl in: the: lower end of each pair of bell cranks 96- as indicated at 101 The upper end of each bell crank has pivotally suspended therefrom an: openlink 10?; carrying a hook eye bolt- 103. v Suitably secured fto each side-98 of hopper QQis an angleor: flange 1 04. Onepair of" hooked bolts 103 to the: left v of hopper294 (viewing Fig-3"), aresecured to the ends of" angle I04 whilethe other pair of hooked bolts to the right oi the hopper is secured to the ends of angle 104, disposed at the right side of the hepper; Thus the hopper is suspended from the frame carried by truck 25 so: that it can move vertically; Stops I06 are: suitably disposed on the: sidesof-"thei hopper 94 at a point thereon somewhat above the top of angles 91 when the hopper'is empty and" elevated position, per

mittin'gz' descent thereof until: the stops-i contact witlrangles' 4 Atone end at each pipe lever 97', splice members Hi7 are secured, extending towards each other as shown on FlgLS. The ends of the splices mm areiormed with knife edges 1'08 engagingi supports or stops 1'09 'ca1'ri'ed by a'frame lll' suspended from one end of l'e'ver arm 112 by suitable" linkage- 113; [lever arm 112' isinf turn: pivotally suspended by eye boltsand limit 1176 from abridge member 115 mounted on the supporting truchiframe'. The other end of lever arm 112 is pivotall'y secured to one. end- 0f a hooked roii l 13131, the other end of which is hooked inzlink l lfl piv ot'ed to the right end ofa second lever: arrm 1191 The lever arm 1 1 93 is fulcrumed on link 121 boltedto frame 122' for the weighing; mechanism (Fig-3). Frame I22 is rivetedor" otherwise secured to the angles 90' of the trucle: Linki 123 on end 1 2 of lever arm 11 9' is engaged lay a hooked 'rod 125 which a'l'so hooks intoilin'lt 1'26; pivoted to one side of'the" i ulorum i'o'r'the steelyardi 12%; The steelyard 1227 is sus pended from: a hook-- 128 which may be integral with the irame 1 22 for theweighing mechanism. As: customary, the steelyard is equipped with a weight platform 3.29 and has slidably' mounted thereon pois'es permittingaccurate weigh ing; of: the matorial as charged into hopper 94. The construction of this" weighing mechanism per. se: forms'n'o part of this invention and consequentiyhas beerr described above only in such" detail' that the: relation: thereof to the invention herein is readily apparent.

From: the above" description, it will be: noted that the: hopper: 9 4i is. permitted: only limited vertical movement, being otherwise substantial- 1y; staticna-ry'andi arranged to be'pl'aced. in counterhalancing: relation with:v the weighing mechanism',.'the weights: placed on' platform 129 de'- termining; the amountv of; charge: which can be fed to the' hopper" before it overbalances-the predetermined weight set on. the steelyard. A. mercury switch: 132 is carried by the steelyard. and

with steelyard lz'lthrough connections 104, 103, 96, 167, 109, 113, 112,v 117, 119 and. 123, pulling down on'the steelyard 12.7, opening switch 132, which interrupts. the operation of the motor, with consequent.v interruption of delivery of material by the conveyor .133 to hopper 94.

Hopper, 94 may consist of a wide, extended upper portion 134 (Fig. 2) and a lower tapering portion 135. Readily replaceable wear-resisting material 136 such as brick and an apron 137, preferably of steel, extending down from'the wearresisting material 136 along the interior of one side of the hopper 94, are preferably provided on the hopper wall immediately beneath the conveyor 133 to protect the hopper against the impact of the fuel as charged from the conveyor thereinto. Lower portion of the hopper narrows to a rectangular dischargeopening 138, the opposite side walls 98 of the hopper 94being cutaway as indicated at 139.

In accordance;with this invention, the closure for rectangular discharge outlet 138 is designed to enter the circular inlet 58 for the fuel magazine bridging the space betweenthe bottom of the hopper 94 and the top of inlet 58, and defining a chute for the discharge of material from the hopper into, the magazine. The closure involves a pair of plates 141, one of which is shown in perspective in- Fig. 4, each plate consisting of a concave base portion 142 and side extensions 143, one edge of which issubstantially straight as indicated at 144, and the other edge 145 of which is arcuate in shape. The plates are pivoted at 146 to opposite sides of the base of hopper 94 so that when closed, the concave portions 142 serve to-support the weight of the material in the hopper and the side extensions 143 are disposed exteriorly of the sides of the hopper in overlapping relation. covering the openings 139 and the sides 98 (see Fig. 2); Movement of the plates into open position, shown in Fig. 1, causes the concave portions to fit within the circular inlet 58 of themagazine. Thus, the side extensions together with the base portions define a chute. extending from discharge outlet of hopper 94 into inlet 58 through which the material gravitates from the hopper into the magazine.

The plates 141 are preferably arranged to be moved by the hydraulic cylinder 62, the piston rod of which is connected to cover 61. For this purpose each plate has pivotally fastened to a plate 148 suitably secured thereon one end of a toggle link 151. The other end of each toggle link 151 is secured to a shaft 152 rotatably journaled on the exterior wall of the magazine 94. The extensions 143 of the plates on op posite sides of the hopper are provided with like linkage operating mechanism herein described, as appears from Fig. 3. Shafts 152 to which the toggles 151 on each side of the hopper are secured have, fixed thereon gears 153, which mesh so, that movement imparted to one toggle is transmitted to the otherby the meshing gears. One of the toggles 151 on each side of the hopper has pivoted thereto one-end of a link 154, the other end of which is secured to operating lever 155, pivoted at- 156 in brackets 157 riveted or otherwise secured to the hopper 94.- Lever has at its top end a counter-weight 158, at its approximate center a relatively short finger 159 and at its bottom end a relatively long extending arm 161, as shown in Fig. 1, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

Fig. 2 discloses the position of the closure for the discharge outlet ofhopper 94 and associated operating mechanism when the closure .plates are in position covering the discharge outlet. Upon movement of cover 61 to the right, viewing Fig. 2, uncovering inlet 58, plates 141 remain closed until extension 162 mounted on the shaft carrying roller 71 engages finger 159. Continued movement of the cover to the right, swinging lever 155 about its pivot 156, elevating the counter-weight 158, causes link 154 connected with the toggle 151 to move the toggles in a direction to accomplish bending of the toggles, shown in Fig. 1. The meshing gears 153 impart movement from one toggle to the other on each side of the hopper so that the toggles on both sides are moved in like extent in timed relation. The counter-weight having been thrown. off center by contact of extension 162 with finger 159, it, together with the weight ofthe fuel in the hopper, causes lever 155 to move to the position shown in Fig. 1, the toggles bending completely, moving plates 141 into open position into the inlet 58 to define a chute bridging the space between the hopper 94 and the fuel magazine.

Return movement of cover '61 causes the extension 162 to engage relatively long arm 161 of operating lever 155, the extension 162 engaging the arm 161 throughout substantially the full length of movement of cover 61, thus positively moving lever 155 to move plates 141, to a closed position. J

. In operation, the charging machine is moved on its truck 25 into position over the charging hole'of the gas generator, and the magazine24 secured in gas-tight engagement with the removable casting 21 on the generator by manipulation of hand wheels 86. The ports of the hy-' draulic cylinders 40 and 62 are operatively connected to a source of pressure fluid, preferably actuated through suitable control mechanism, and the switches associated with the spreader 37 and cover 61 are connected in circuit with the electric motor driving conveyor 133 and the control mechanism, "as fully and completely disclosed in the aforementioned Steere application, Serial No. 305,848. The weighing mechanism is adjusted in accordance with the predetermined load it is desired to have the hopper deliver to the magazine. 1

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown on Fig. 2, conveyor 133 delivers the fuel or other material to hopper 94. Upon delivery of a predetermined charge, the hopper descends vertically and through the linkage connections above described, pulls down on the steelyard 127,

opening switch 132, which interrupts the feed of material to hopper 94 by the conveyor 133.

Hydraulic cylinder 62 is then operated to remove cover 61. Upon movement of. cover 61, extension 162 associated therewith strikes finger 159, mov ing operating lever 155 about the pivot 156 with consequent movement of the plates 141 from the position shown in Fig.2 to that of Fig. 1, the plates defining a chute for the passage of material from. the hopper into the magazine. During the return movement of cover 61, extension 162 engages long arm 161 to close cover plates 141. Discharge of material from the hopper causes the weights on the stcelyard to return the magazine to its initial elevated position and close switch 132, permitting further operation of the motor driving the conveyor 133 after the closure plates 141 have been returned to closed position. The feature of having the mechanism for removing and replacing cover 61 over the discharge inlet of themagazine also controlling:

itdddgfia V positioned;over:and spaced from said inlet, closure;

the closing and opening off plates I41; insures the opening and closingof 'platbs ffl at the proper point in: the cycle of operatiomso that the fuel hopper placedin direct commumea tion with the magazine only whenthe: cover 61- is completely removed. Hence all' f uel dc. liver-ed to hopper' 94 is discnargedintd thez'majgazine and? spillage and waste thereof avoided;

The latch 54 having been manually released.'

cylinder- 40: is operated in timed relation to lower the spreader 3.7. intothe positioir shown-in broken: lines on Fig; 2', the fuel gravitating-fi'om therewith, placing theapparatus in condition for another cycle of operation described abovez" dimensions and general arrangement and; as: to details'of construction may, of course, be. varied according to. the purpose for which the charger:

is used. Many slight'variations. may. be: introducedi, for specialpurposes. The" possible-Vaniations and details of construction and arrangement. are too numerous to be mentioned in: a. patent. specification. It: will be.- understood, therefore, that. this-invention iSs notlto be limited to theillustrative' embodiment-herein disclosed.

We claim: l 1. A charger for a: gas generator; comprising a supporting frame,, a fuel;magazine onzisaidi frame, said magazine having. an chargingLin-Iet' and. a discharge ,outlet,.,the' latter beingslocated in the bottom of said fuel magazinetddischarg'ea' from the top of said frame and arranged to deliver fuel to said magazine and weighing mechanism carried by said frame and disposed exteriorly of said hopper, said hopper being arranged to be placed in counter-balancing relation with said weighing mechanism.

2. A charger for a gas generator comprising a truck frame, a fuel magazine on said frame having a discharge outlet located in the bottom of said fuel magazine to discharge fuel from said fuel magazine into said generator, a closure for said outlet arranged to effect closure thereof and to distribute the fuel to the generator when in open position, a hopper suspended from the top of said frame so as to permit only limited vertical movement thereof, said hopper extending vertically downwardly from the top of said frame and arranged to discharge into said fuel magazine and weighing mechanism on the frame disposed exteriorly of said hopper, said hopper being arranged to be placed in counter-balancing relation with said weighing mechanism.

3. In combination with a gas generator, a fuel magazine positioned over said generator and adapted to discharge fuel thereinto, said magazine being provided with an inlet, a hopper for delivering fuel to said fuel magazine, said hopper having limited vertical movement only, said hopper having a discharge opening permanently plates for said dischargeopening, and means to move said plates to alternately'close said opening: and to provide a substantiallyclosed conduit for the passage of fuel from said discharge opening through the inlet intothe magazine.

4'. Jim-combination witha gas generator; acarri'age arranged to be removably secured to said generator, a supporting frame on said carriage, a fuel magazine mounted on said carriage, said magazine having an inlet, a Weigh hopper, means for suspending said weigh hopper from. saidsupporting' frame, so as to permit limited vertical movement only of said. weighhopper, means tofeed fuel to said weigh hopper, weighin'g'mechanism on said carriage arranged to control the feedgof fuel to'said weigh hopper, said hopper having a discharge opening permanently located directlyover'said inlet, anda closure for said weigh hopper arranged to alternately closesaid discharge opening and provide a substan- The design of the charging apparatus; asto" tially closed conduitforconducting fuel from" the weigh hopper to said fuel magazine.

5. chargercomprising a magazine having a circularinlet, a hop erhaving. a rectangular discharge openi'ng' arranged to discharge material into the circular inlet of] said'inagazine and a closure for said discharge outlet comprising a pair of concave base plates having side extensio'ns, said' plates-being arrangedito' be moved so that the concavebase plates fit within the circularopening and the side extensions cooperate with the base plates'to define a chute for the discharge of zine:

'6: In combination with agas generator, a carriage arrangedto" beremovably secured to said generator; a fuel magazine mounted on' said carriage'; acharging nozzle for said" fuel magazine, ahoppe'rmounted on said carriage adapted to contain a charge offuel; a" discharge" openingin said hopper positioned over said charging nozzle, a cooperating pair of concave plates located adjacent the opening of said hopper to alternately close said opening and conduct fuel from said hopper into said charging nozzle, each plate being of a size to close approximately one-half of the bottom of said hopper, side plates integral with and vertically positioned at the sides of charging nozzle, a hopper positioned above said fuel magazine adapted to contain a charge of fuel, a discharge opening in said hopper positioned over said charging nozzle, a cooperating pair of bottom plates located adjacent said opening to alternately close the openingand conduct fuel from said hopper into said charging nozzle,

each plate being of a size to close approximately one-half of the bottom of said hopper, side plates integral with and vertically positioned at the sides of said bottom plates, all of said plates being adapted to rotate about axes located adjacent-the discharge opening of said hopper, toggle members associated with said side plates, linkage means for operating said toggle members to move saidplates into open or closed position, and means for removing the closure for said material from thehopper to the megacharging nozzle said latter means also operating said linkage means. a

8. A charger comprising a fuel magazine, a

fuel magazine and provided with an openin a closure member. for said opening, a supporting bar attached to said closure member, guides for said bar extending'from a point over said open: ing to a point spaced from said opening, said guides 'being formed at the point above said opening with cam portions adapted to wedge said closure membersecurely in closed position over said opening. v

9. In combination with a gas generator, a fuel magazine mounted thereon andprovided with an opening to discharge fuel from said fuel magazine to said generator, a vertically reciprocal closure element for said opening arranged to alternately effect closure thereof and to distribute the fuel from the magazine to the generator when in open position, a shaft connected to said,

closure extending from the element up through the magazine to a point exteriorly thereof, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and movable therewith to move said closure, and an auxiliary sleeve within the magazine, covering the portion of the shaft within the magazine, the auxiliary sleeve being of greater diameter than and concentric with the first mentioned sleeve to permit the latter to move in the auxiliary sleeve.

10. In combination with a gas generator, a carriage arranged to be removablysecured to said generator, a supporting frame on said carriage, a fuel magazine mounted on said carriage, said fuel magazine being provided with an opening communicating withsaid generator, a closure for said opening arranged to distribute fuel to the generator when in open position, said member being adapted to be vertically reciprocated along the axis of the fuel magazine, a. charging means;

nozzle for: said ,fuel magazine comprising a rounded, protuberant; portion eccentrically located with respect to the axis, of said fuel magazine, a closure member associated with said charging nozzle, means to horizontally reciprocate. said closure memberfrom a closed position to an open position, and means-to securely wedge saidmember in place whenin closed position, a weigh hopper, means for suspending said weigh hopper from said frame so as to permit limited vertical movement of said hopper, means to feed fuel to said 'weighhopper, weighing mechanism on said carriage,asaid weigh hopper being arranged to be .placed in counterbalancing relation to said weighing mechanism, an opening in the bottom of 'said weigh hopper located over,

said charging nozzle, and means mounted adjacent-said opening to alternately close said opening and conduct fuel from the weigh hopper to said ,fuelm'agazlne, said means being actuated by reciprocation of the closure member for said charging nozzle.

11; Acharger comprising a hopper having a discharge opening, a :fuel magazine'having an inlet spaced below'said discharge opening, a closure for said discharge opening of said hopper arrangedto alternately close the. bottom of the hopper andbridgethe space between the discharge opening of the hopper and the inlet for 

